Turn-to-open tamper-proof closure for containers



March 12, 1963 M. B. STULL TURN-T-DPEN TAMPER-PROOF CLOSURE FOR CONTA-INFiled July 8, 1959 Mar/0n 5".

AGENT United States Patent 1 3,081,011 TURN-TO-OPEN TAMPER-PROOF CLOSUREFOR CONTAINERS Morton B. Stull, Clifton, NJ. (221-223 Banta Ave.,Garfield, NJ.) Filed July 8, 1 959, Ser. No. 825,793 13 Claims. (Cl.222-541) This invention relates to closures for small containers such ascans, boxes and the like, and more particularly to closures which areturnably or rotatably mounted and which are actuated to open or closethe container by a turning or rotary movement.

In the past various types of turn-to-open closures have been proposedand produced. Generally these closures have consisted of a small disc ofmetal or other sheet material which are carried by a pivot secured tothe container, the said disc having a dispensing opening or orificewhich couldbe brought into registration with an opening of thecontainer, as by turning the closure disc, thereby to enable thecontents of the container to be discharged. ln some instances theclosure disc had a plunality of small openings which were closelyspaced, thereby to enable the closure to function as a sifting means ordistributing device. Also, in some cases these rotary closures wereprovided with detent means such as stop lugs or the like to establish orfix their open and closed positions and to retain the closures indesired positions or settings.

The use of these prior closures involved the provision of a pivot pin orrivet, and necessitated an assembly oper- -ation involving at least twoparts in addition to the wall of the container. These parts, in thesimplest type of closure, constituted the closure disc or body itselfand the pivotal mounting means comprising the pin or rivet. Ordinarilyit was not convenient or feasible to utilize automatic capping orassembling equipment in applying this type of closure to the container,due to the multiplicity of parts involved. Thu-s, the application orassembly of the closure often involved hand operations, which resultedin a somewhat costly procedure and end product.

Also, with these prior closures the container could be inadvertentlyopened due to accidental shifting of the closure to its open position,where conditions of rough handling were prevalent. And, what was stillmore important, there was no assurance when this prior type of closurewas employed, that the contents of the container would not be tamperedwith or removed either in part .or in whole.

The above disadvantages and drawbacks of prior-type rotary closures areobviated by the present invention, and one object of the invention is toprovide a novel and improved turn-to-open closure which, when installedon a container, will provide an efiective tamper-proofwassemblage,thereby discouraging and minimizing the likelihood of the containercontents being removed or tampered with.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improvedrotary-type tamper-proof closure in accordance with the foregoing, whichwill be securely held and retained in its original closed conditiondespite rough handling and adverse conditions of use of the containerprior to the actual authorized use of the contents.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improvedtamper-proof turn-to-open closure for containers as above set forth,which is constituted of but a single integral piece or component and isso arranged that it may be readily applied to the container by automaticassembling or capping equipment.

A feature of the invention resides in the provision of an improved,one-piece wholly integral rotary-type clocarried by the container walls.

truly tamper-proof since it 2 sure which may be economically fabricatedas a molded plastic part, by mass production techniques.

Another-feature of the invention resides in the pro- .vision of a novel,one-piece molded tamper-proof rotarytype closure having cooperableportions adapted to constitute a detent means, for holding the closurein any of various desired positions.

Still another feature of the invention resides in the provision of animproved tamper-proof closure as above set forth, which may be easilyand quickly applied to thecontainer by .a simple pressing or snap-onoperation.

In accomplishing the above objects and attaining the listed advantagesthere is provided in accordance with the invention a novel one-piece,wholly integral molded closure structure which is constitutedessentially of an anchorage portion adapted to be fixed to thecontainer, a closure portion, which is manually turn able, and a thinfrangible restraining web which is integral with and which connects theanchorage and closure portions to each other, for the purpose ofinitially holding the latter portion against turning and in a positioncovering the opening of the container. Thus, the closure structure is isnot possible or easily feasible to actuate the closure portion so as toopen the container for discharge of the contents, without'fracturing orbreaking the thin frangible web.

In one embodiment of the invention both the anchorage and closureportions are adapted to be mounted on and In another embodiment of theinvention, only the anchorage portion is arranged to be secured to ormounted on the container wall, and the closure portion is so constitutedthat it is rotatably mounted on the anchorage portion itself and iscooperable therewith for purposes of dispensing the contents of thecontainer. In each of these embodiments, the imparting of any rotarymovement to the closure, portion for the purpose of uncovering theopening of the container will result in the connecting web being broken,thereby indicating that the closure was actuated in an unauthorizedmanner.

Other features and hereinafter appear.

In the drawings accompanying this specification, similar characters ofreference have been used to designate like components or partsthroughout the several views, in which: 1 FIG. 1 is a top plan view ofan improved tamper-proof rotary-type closure as provided by theinvention, said closure being carried by the top of a container or can.

FIG. 2 is an axial sectional view, taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a diiferent type of rotary tamper-proofclosure illustrating another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary radial section, taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is indicated by the numeral 10 aconventional type of can top or closure, which is constituted forexample of sheet metal and is provided with a curled peripheral portion'12 by which it is secured to the top edge of the container.

The container top 10 may have a depressed central portion 14 formed withan arcuate or segmental-shaped dispensing opening 16, and may furtherhave a central opening indicated generally by the numeral 17, the edgeportions of which are adapted to constitute a bearing means for theclosure structure.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided, rotatablymounted on the top wall 10 of the container, a novel tamper-proof,rotary-type closure structure having a. number of unique, desirablefeatures and adadvantages of 'the invention will vantages. As shown,this closure structure comprises an anchorage portion 19 which isconstituted as a small button or pin, said anchorage portion beingreceived in an opening (generally designated by the numeral 21) providedin the top wall of the container.

The closure structure further comprises a closure portion which isdesignated generally by the numeral 23, said closure portion being shownas having essentially the form of a thin, flat disc. The closure portion23 may be constituted in various ways. For example, as shown in theembodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the closureportion has a large arcuate or segmentalshaped discharge opening ororifice 25, which is adapted to register With the dispensing opening 16of the container closure .10 upon the closure portion 23 being suitablyturned. The closure portion 23 has a solid wall 27, which is shown inFIGS. 1 and 2 as covering the discharge opening 16 of the container top10, thereby to prevent discharge of the container contents.Additionally, the closure portion 23 has a plurality of closely spacedopenings 29 which constitute a sifting device when they are registeredwith or overlie the discharge opening 16 of the top '10.

In accordance with the invention and as shown, the sifting openings 29are of generally triangular configuration and are staggered or reversedin their positions with respect to one another, and I have found that bythis organization the sharp points of the openings 29 serve a usefulfunction in admitting air to the container during 'the dispensing of thecontents thereof. This is useful, for example, in the dispensing ofbread crumbs or similar granular material, inasmuch as it provides for amore uniform and even flow of the substance, thereby facilitating thesifting and distribution of the same. It will be understood that thesifting openings 29 are operative when the closure portion 23 is rotatedto bring these in overlying relation to the discharge opening 16 of thecontainer top 10.

When the large discharge orifice 25 of the closure portion is registeredwith the discharge opening 16 of the container top 10 a large flow ofthe container contents will be had, without any sifting action, whereaswhen the sifting openings 29 overlie the discharge opening 16 a lesserflow will result, with a sifting or distributing action.

When the solid wall portion 27 of the closure portion.

23 overlies the discharge opening 16, no flow whatsoever of thecontainer contents will be had.

For the purpose of facilitating the manipulation or turning of theclosure portion 23, a low, radially extending rib 31 is provided,preferably on the solid wall portion 27, for engagement by the fingersof the hand.

The closure portion 23 is turnably mounted on the top wall portion 10 ofthe container by the provision of a depending hollow boss 33 which isadapted to be pressed through the bearing opening 17 of the wall 10 andwhich has a sloping retainer shoulder 35 to prevent withdrawal of theboss once it has been pressed into place. It will be understood that thedepending bearing boss 33 is of resilient or yieldable construction,thereby to enable it to be compressed so as to permit the slopingshoulder 35 to be pressed into and past the bearing hole 17.

A similar construction is preferably employed in connection with theanchorage portion or pin 19 of the closure construction, wherein a bore37 is provided in the shank, together with a sloping detent shoulder 38.The anchorage portion 19 has an enlargement or head 40 the diameter ofwhich is greater than that of the shank, as clearly seen in FIG. 2. Theanchorage portion 19 is also preferably of resilient construction, andit is preferred to mold the entire closure construction of a suitableplastic composition such as polyethylene or similar resilientformulations of the type commonly utilized at the present time in theclosure art.

In accordance with the present invention, the anchorage portion 19 andthe closure portion 23 are connected to each other by a thin, frangiblerestraining web 42 which is integral with these portions and by whichthe closure construction is made tamper-proof and the closure portion 23is prevented from being inadvertently or accidentally shifted to any ofits open positions. As Shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the frangible retainingweb 42 may be advantageously connected between the head 40 of theanchorage portion 19 and a peripheral edge of the closure portion 23,and the disposition of the anchorage portion with respect to the solidwall 27 of the closure portion is such that the said solid wall overliesthe discharge opening 16 of the container top 10 when the web 42 isunbroken and the anchorage portion 19 is seated in the recess or opening21, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

By the above organization the advantage of a tamperproof cap is hadinasmuch as the restraining web 42 securely holds the closure portion 23in its orifice-closing position as illustrated, and since the retainingaction of the sloping shoulders 35 and 38 on the boss 33 and pin 19respectively are extremely effective in retaining the two main componentportions of the closure structure effectively in place on the top wall10 of the container. In order to shift or turn the closure portion 23 soas to effect a discharge of the contents of the container it isnecessary to break the restraining web 42, and the broken condition ofthe web will thus be indicative of the fact that the closure portion 23has been shifted or turned out of its orifice-closing position.

The invention provides for molding the entire closure structure in asingle operation, essentially in the configuration shown. The head 40 ofthe anchorage portion 19 may be disposed in the same plane as the majorwall surfaces of the closure portion 23, instead of as shown in FIG. 2however.

The frangible retaining web 42 is preferably made quite thin so that itmay be fairly easily broken upon a sufficient turning force beingexerted on the closure portion 23. Also, at one particular location onthe web 42 it may be made thinner than at other locations if it isdesired to pin-point or specifically limit the point of breakage. Itwill be understood, however, that the web 42 is sufficiently strong toremain unbroken during stresses or forces which we imposed on it duringnormal handling, shipping and storing of the container.

If it is desired that the web 42 withstand a considerable force beforerupturing, thereby to prevent dislodgement of the closure portion 23from its orifice-covering position even in response to appreciableturning forces being applied to it, the web may be made of sufficientthickness to require the breaking of it by the use of a suitable tool,as for example a razor blade, scissors or the like.

Preferably, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a plurality of radially extendingbeads or ribs 44 are provided on the underside of the closure portion23, for the purpose of acting as wipers to minimize any deposit of thesubstance which is to be dispensed, on the exterior of the wall 10between the latter and the closure portion 23.

Further, in accordance with the present invention I provide a noveldetent means by which the closure portion 23 may be retained in variousadjusted positions, as desired. For example, after breaking the web 42,the detent means may be employed to retain the closure portion 23 ineither of the three positions possible i.e. the shut-off position, thesifting position, and the full-discharge position. This detent meanspreferably includes the anchorage portion 19 of the closure structure,and further comprises a plurality of notched flanges 46 having pairs ofsloping edges 47 between which notches or recesses 48 are disposed. Theflanges 46 are disposed on the peripheral edge of the closure portion 23at fairly equi-spaced intervals, and are arranged for engagement withthe shank portion of the anchorage or pin 19 of the closure structure.The flanges 46 are relatively thin and are readily yieldable, thereby toenable the high spots of the flanges to be forcedpast the pin 19, as maybe readily understood. 1

A1so, in accordance with the invention, the anchorage portion 19 ispreferably located so as to'be in adjoining relation with one of thenotched flanges 46 whereby the web 42 is connected to a sloping edge ofthe said one flange. By virtue of this construction, the detent meanscomprising the flanges 46 is not operative at the time that the web 42is constituting the tamper-proof means. Thus, a turning force exerted onthe closure portion 23 will be 'fully experienced by the connecting web42, thereby to facilitate the breaking of the web. Once the web 42 hasbeen broken, any one of the notched flanges 46 may be brought intoengagement with the shank of the pin 19 to yieldably hold the closureportion 23 in the desired adjusted position. i

. With the above'improved closure. construction the operation ofattaching theclo'sur e to the container cover may be easily'and quicklycarried out, especially with automatic capping equipment. It will benoted that the entire closure construction is constituted of a single,completely integral molded piece, and accordingly such piece may bereadily hopper-fed in a capping machine, and may be readily properlypositioned with respect to the container top 10 and thereafter easilypressed in place by the use of a suitable punch or fixture. Since thereare no loose parts separate from the closure construction, a fullyautomatic machine assembly of the closure to the container top isreadily feasible.

:It will be understood from the foregoing that I have provided anextremely simple, molded one-piece closure construction which istamper-proof, simple and economical to fabricate, easily applied to thecontainer, and reliable in operation, the said closure constructionhaving important advantages as pointed out. After molding of the piececomprising the portions 19, 23, and 42 no expensive or costly finishingoperations are required whatsoever, but instead the piece is virtuallycompletely ready to be applied to the container wall and placed intouse.

Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. Inthis embodiment the top or cover of the container is indicated by thenumeral 10a, said top having a peripheral portion 10b provided with aninwardly extending flange 10c which overlies the peripheral edge 23a ofa closure portion 23b of the closure structure. The closure portion 23bis of segmental shape, as shown in FIG. 3, having a depending pivot boss33a generally similar to the boss 33 shown in FIG. 2. The closureportion 23b has a finger piece 31a, and for the purposes of making theclosure tamper-proof there is provided an anchorage portion 19a which isconnected to the closure portion 23b by a frangible restraining web 42a.

Preferably, as shown, a pair of yieldable detents is provided in theform of yieldable arms 46a, and the frangible web 42a is shown asconnected between one of the arms 46a and the anchorage portion 19a.

The container cover 10a has a segmental-shaped discharge opening 16a,which is normally closed or covered by a solid wall of the closureportion 2312, as shown in FIG. 3.

When it is desired to dispense the contents of the container, theclosure portion 23b is grasped and turned in a clockwise direction,thereby rupturing the connecting web 42a and uncovering the dischargeopening 16a. The left-most arm 46a shown in FIG. 3, upon engagement withthe anchorage portion or pin 19a will yieldably hold the closure portion23b in its open position, and the closure portion may be held in closedposition by engagement between the right-most arm 46a and the anchorageportion or pin 1911. In each instance, the arms 46a, which haveprojecting portions or noses 46b, will yield to enable the noses to beshifted past the pin 19a in order to effect an interlocking engagementbetween the pin and the respective arm.

"scope of the claims, and "be used without others.

. 6 The closure structure as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 has'theadvantages and features mentioned above in connection with theembodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Variations and modifications may be made within the portions of theimprovement may opening for discharge of the contents of said container,

said anchorage portion being disposed radially alongside the closureportion and said molded piece further having a tensile holding meanscomprising a tie member in the form of a thin frangible restraining webwhich is integral with and which connects the anchorage and the closureportions in side-by-side relation for tensionally holding the closureportion against turning and in a position covering such opening, saidweb being in full view and readily seen, and being readily severablewhen forcibly pulled by turning of the closure portion, thereby torelease said closure portion for subsequent free turning movement to itsopening position.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1, in which the closure portion isof relatively large size, and in which the anchorage portion comprises arelatively small button disposed adjacent a peripheral edge of theclosure portion and connected thereto by the said restraining web.

3. The invention as defined in claim 1, in which there is a detent meanscarried by the closure portion and engageable with the said anchorageportion, for yieldably holding the closure portion in a given adjustedposition.

4. The invention as defined in claim 3, in which the detent means iscarried by a peripheral edge of the closure portion, and in which thefrangible restraining web is connected to the closure portion at a pointadjacent the said detent means.

5. The invention as defined in claim 3, in which the detent meanscomprises a yieldable arm carried by the closure portion and projectingin a circumferential direction therefrom.

6. The invention as defined in claim 5, in which the closure portion isof segmental shape, having a pair of angularly disposed side edges, andin which the detent means comprises a pair of yieldable arms disposedrespectively on said side edges and engageable respectively with thesaid anchorage portion as the closure portion is swung in eitherclockwise or counterclockwise direction.

7. The invention as defined in claim 3, in which the detent meanscomprises a notched flange disposed on the periphery of the closureportion.

8. The invention as defined in claim 7, in which the detent means on theclosure portion comprises a notched flange having a sloping edgeengageable with the said anchorage portion, and in which the anchorageportion is in the form of a button having a head and a shank of reduceddiameter, the said shank being engageable with the notched flange.

9. The invention as defined in claim 8, in which there are twoadditional detent means comprising notched flanges adapted forengagement with the said anchorage portion, and in which the closureportion has a large opening constituting the said dispensing orifice,has a solid-walledportion constituting a closure means, and has aplurality of relatively small sifting openings disposed adjacent eachother and constituting a sifting means,

said detent flanges being arranged to maintain the closure portion ineither of three dilferent positions wherein either the large dispensingorifice is operative, or else the solid walled closure portion, or elsethe sifting openings. 10. The invention as defined in claim 1, in whichthe means for securing the anchorage portion to the container comprisesa laterally projecting boss on the anchorage portion, having a slopingretainer shoulder, said boss being adapted to be snapped into a bearingopening.

11. The invention as defined in claim 10, in which 10 the means forturnably mounting the closure portion comprises a boss projectinglaterally therefrom and having a sloping retaining shoulder, said bossbeing adapted to be pressed into a bearing hole of the container toturnably mount the closure portion thereon.

12. The invention as defined in claim 10, in which the anchorage portionhas an annular bearing shoulder, and in which the means for turnablymounting the closure portion includes a cooperable annular bearingshoulder engageable with the shoulder of the anchorage portion, saidclosure portion being adapted to be pressed into a recess bounded by theannular bearing shoulder of the anchorage portion.

13. The invention as defined in claim 6, in which the closure portionhas a plurality of radially extending ridges disposed in itsundersurface for engagement with the wall of the container on which theclosure portion is mounted, to constitute a wiper means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re.24,621 Schares Mar. 17, 1959 211,011 Harrison Dec. 17, 1878 1,883,390Meier Oct. 18, 1932 2,487,825 Olvis Nov. 15, 1949 2,750,068 Platt June12, 1956 2,769,583 Darlington Nov. 6, 1956 2,777,615 De Shazor Jan. 15,1957 2,805,005 Kappler Sept. 3, 1957 2,817,451 Giles et al. Dec. 24,1957 2,826,343 Albiani Mar. 11, 1958 2,885,128 Zimmerli May 5, 19592,954,148 Corrinet et al. Sept. 27, 1960 2,961,132 Ankney Nov. 22, 1960

1. A TURN-TO-OPEN TAMPER-PROOF CLOSURE STRUCTURE COMPRISING A ONE-PIECEENTIRELY INTEGRAL MOLDED PIECE HAVING AN ANCHORAGE PORTION PROVIDED WITHMEANS BY WHICH IT MAY BE SECURED TO A CONTAINER HAVING A DISPENSINGOPENING AND MAY BE HELD THEREON AGAINST MOVEMENT, HAVING A FLAT CLOSUREPORTION DISPOSED ALONGSIDE THE ANCHORAGE PORTION AND PROVIDED WITH ADISPENSING ORIFICE AND MEANS FOR TURNABLY MOUNTING THE CLOSURE PORTIONON A BEARING SUPPORT WHEREBY IT MAY COVER SAID DISPENSING OPENING OFSAID CONTAINER AND, UPON BEING TURNED, UNCOVER SUCH OPENING FORDISCHARGE OF THE CONTENTS OF SAID CONTAINER, SAID ANCHORAGE PORTIONBEING DISPOSED RADIALLY ALONGSIDE THE CLOSURE PORTION AND SAID MOLDEDPIECE FURTHER HAVING A TENSILE HOLDING MEANS COMPRISING A TIE MEMBER INTHE FORM OF A THIN FRANGIBLE RESTRAINING WEB WHICH IS INTEGRAL WITH ANDWHICH CONNECTS THE ANCHORAGE AND THE CLOSURE PORTIONS IN SIDE-BY-SIDERELATION FOR TENSIONALLY HOLDING THE CLOSURE PORTION AGAINST TURNING ANDIN A POSITION COVERING SUCH OPENING, SAID WEB BEING IN FULL VIEW ANDREADILY SEEN, AND BEING READILY SEVERABLE WHEN FORCIBLY PULLED BYTURNING OF THE CLOSURE PORTION, THEREBY TO RELEASE SAID CLOSURE PORTIONFOR SUBSEQUENT FREE TURNING MOVEMENT TO ITS OPENING POSITION.